Four LRS grapplers advance to Regionals on Feb. 9

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos wrestling squad took seven wrestlers to the South League Tournament in Pomeroy on Feb. 2, and four of those wrestlers will be advancing to this weekend’s Regional Tournament in Liberty.

Wrestlers who finished in the top four at the South League Tournament earned a birth to Regionals. Two Broncos grapplers finished in second place, while two other wrestlers finished in third place.

Freshman Johnny Ryan finished in second place in the 106 pound weight class. Ryan faced off against a wrestler from Reardan in his opening match, where he pinned his opponent in the second period to advance to the finals.

In the finals, Ryan wrestled another foe from Reardan, this one a junior who finished fourth in the 2B State Tournament in 2018. Ryan was actually leading in the match in the second period, but then got out of position and was pinned, finishing in second place.

Ryan will take on the third-place finisher from the North in his opening match at the Regional Tournament, which will be a wrestler from Wilbur-Creston. Head coach Jason Hilzer noted that Ryan has beaten everybody he’s faced from North League teams, and he expects Ryan to advance to the State Tournament.

At 113 pounds, eighth grader Brandon Davis was one of just two wrestlers in his weight class, meaning he automatically advanced to the finals and the Regional Tournament. Davis took on a wrestler from Colfax in the finals, who took third in State last year. Davis got pinned in the first period, but Hilzer said that it was a good experience for him as he prepares for this weekend’s Regional Tournament.

Sophomore Sam Michels wrestled at 138 pounds in the tournament, and faced off against a wrestler from Liberty for the second time this season. In the first matchup, Michels got pinned in the first period. But Michels stuck around longer in this match, ultimately getting pinned in the third period. He then took on an opponent from Pomeroy and got pinned in the second period, ending his season.

At 152 pounds, senior Dylan Lane wrestled against a foe from Northwest Christian in his opening match. Lane was leading 11-8 heading into the the third and final period, and was tied at 11-all before Hilzer said that he just ran out of gas and got pinned. Following a bye, Lane then took on a wrestler from Colfax and was pinned in the second period. In the fifth and sixth place matchup, with the fifth-place finisher advancing to Regionals as an alternate, Lane was pinned by a wrestler from Davenport in the second period.

Junior Spencer Olson wrestled at 160 pounds, and got pinned in the first period by a wrestler from Liberty. Hilzer said that the wrestler had been wrestling at 170 pounds all season before dropping down to 160 pounds for postseason play. The Liberty wrestler ultimately won the 160 pound weight class later in the day. In his second match, Olson took on a kid from Davenport, and lost via pin in the third period in what Hilzer said was a pretty good match.

Sophomore Doug Morris returned from injury to wrestle at 195 pounds in the league tournament, and was pinned in the second period in what Hilzer said could be attributed to him still trying to regain the strength in his shoulder. Morris bounced back in his second match though, pinning a wrestler from Davenport in the third period after leading 13-0. Hilzer said that the match was good for Morris to work on a couple of things as he comes back from his injury.

Morris took on a wrestler from Colfax in the third and fourth place match and pinned him in the second round, giving him the South’s No. 3 seed in the Regional Tournament. He’ll take on the North’s No. 2 seed in his opening match at Regionals, a wrestler from Kettle Falls that Morris lost to earlier in the season after getting caught in a throw, which Hilzer said they’ll be working on this week in practice.

“If he wins that [first match,] he’s got a good shot of finishing in the top four,” said Hilzer. “If he doesn’t, it’ll be a little harder but he’s still got a good shot. You’ve got to win that first match, the first match is a big deal.

Sophomore Thomas Schermerhorn wrestled in the 220 pound weight class at the league tournament, and was one of just three wrestlers in his class, meaning he earned an automatic spot to Regionals. He took on a wrestler from Liberty in his only match, losing via pin in the second period and giving him the No. 3 seed. He’ll take on a Wilbur-Creston wrestler in his first match at Regionals, who Hilzer said is beatable.

“I fully expect all four of those guys to make it to State,” Hilzer said. Hilzer also mentioned that the rest of the team will also still be attending practices to wrestle with them this week. Michels is Ryan’s practice partner, so he’ll attend State with the team if Ryan makes it, so Ryan will have someone to wrestle with.

“He outweighs Johnny, but that’s the competition that he needs,” Hilzer said.

The Regional Tournament will take place on Feb. 9 in Liberty. Weigh-ins are scheduled for 8 a.m. and match play is slated to begin at 10 a.m.